Andrea Riseborough tackles that question, and its consequences, as Collette McVeigh in “Shadow Dancer.” Collette, a single mother, takes up residence in Belfast with her mother and brothers, who are passionate members of the Irish Republican Army.

When Collette is arrested for her role in an aborted IRA bomb plot in London, an MI5 agent (Clive Owen) gives her a chance to keep herself out of prison. In exchange, she must return to Belfast and spy on her own family.

The film takes place in early 1990s Belfast, and is based on the book of the same name by political journalist and British author Tom Bradby. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2012, and comes out on demand and theatrically on May 31.

About Speakeasy

Speakeasy is a blog covering media, entertainment, celebrity and the arts. The publication is produced by Barbara Chai and Jonathan Welsh with contributions from the Wall Street Journal staff and others. Write to us at speakeasy@wsj.com or follow us on Twitter at @WSJSpeakeasy or individually @barbarachai.